I was having one of those days, the when it rains it pours kind of day, and Matt @ McCarthy Tire,…read morereally helped turn my day around.
I came out from a dentist appointment on Leitersburg Pike, to a VERY flat tire. I think they call it pancake flat . lol . The road side assist guy that came to help me put the donut on, advised that a tire shop likely wouldn't plug it because the "injury spot" (a nail) was so close to the side, but he thought they should be able to do a patch from the inside but likely wouldn't' do a plug. As a woman and knowing nothing about tire repair, I was taking notes, for the common fear that as a woman or a person not knowing or seeming to know anything, I might get taken for a ride.
I Yelp'ed nearby tire places, and by circumstance / situation, McCarthy was one of a few that was closest. I called to give them a heads up that I was coming, fearing an appointment may be needed and they said come on over!
I drove over and my roller coaster of a bad day continued.
The guy at the counter, comes out to assess my situation. He takes a look at the tire, and says he can't patch it because of where the nail went in.. I think great now I have to get at least 2 tires because they will never replace 1 (I'm familiar with these tire scenarios ) . But then he says , to my surprise and some skepticism, that he will just do one tire (what?!), um.. thank you universe, I don't have to get 2 new tires!
We go inside, he checks inventory, I say I want, no I NEED the cheapest one please and a little typing later he declares he can do it all for 91 bucks. Yahoo, thank you , yes I'll take it. But no wait... damn we don't have THAT tire in stock. But we can order it and put it on tomorrow.. ugh no that won't work.. I'm in Hagerstown now and don't want to be driving all over the tri state with a donut or having to drive back into Hagerstown where I otherwise have no need to be, and adding this to my day the next day.. so I ask what's the cheapest that can be done today?
Now we're at $150.. then he gets it down to $130 because I think he feels bad for me and my bad day?
He takes my car into the shop and moments later comes out saying, you guessed it: you want the good news or the bad news first? And I'm thinking, seriously?! Another one of these moments! Come on!!! NO more bad news..
I say: Good news.
He says: I can repair the tire after all.
I leap with joy. Like literally leap from the curb I'm sitting on. Note I'm sitting on the curb outside because I want to sit outside because it was nice out; they had a very pleasant looking waiting room, I elected not to use ;)
Then I ask, what's the bad news?
He says I'm only gonna make $25 .
And I think:
1) Holy moly this day is turning around.
2) Did he mess up the good news, bad news line? ;)
3) Where's the next curve ?!
Nope, no more curve balls. He patches my tire, charges me a grand total of 25 bucks! And I promise him a review that will more than pay for the money he "lost" on me today! I'd be happy to share this story!
Thank you, honest tire sales/ fixer guy Matt! You turned my whole day around when you took a second look at my flat tire and didn't elect to just take the easy, profit wheeling direction and you did me a solid.
There's no doubt he could have just planted that $150 tire on my car, and sent me off. He took the extra time, to check, to do " the right thing", whatever you want to call it, and for that, he will have my loyalty and anyone who asks me about car stuff in Hagerstown, I'll send that way.
Doing well by others matters and Matt @ McCarthy, who I learned recently acquired the business, totally has my vote.
Your karma is coming for you buddy! ;)
And my mini woe is me, bad day party turned into a:
people are so good sometimes, SO good.
You never know how much you can affect someone's day.
Thanks Matt!
~Kym